Philosophy 25A

This course will provide an introduction to the history of philosophy and
to philosophical thinking in general. Students new to the subject will
acquire a crucial foundation for further study in philosophy or related
subjects, while students with more experience will develop a sense of
different approaches to familiar problems. We will examine the beginnings
of philosophy in ancient Greece and trace some of its developments over
the course of antiquity. At the same time, we will try to understand what
ancient Greeks took to be philosophical problems in areas ranging from the
nature of what exists and the knowledge of it to questions of how each
person should live and how people should live together. We will also
explore how those problems resonate with concerns of modern philosophers.
The course will begin with early Greek philosophy, then focus primarily on
Plato and Aristotle, and conclude with a brief treatment of the
philosophical schools that grew up after Aristotle.